Tonga

Where Our Fight Against Diabetes Began

The kingdom of Tonga embraces the values of respect, generosity, gratitude, and love.  It was here that ‘Amanaki Fo’ou was born to help counter the devastating effects of the nationwide diabetes epidemic.

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Our Impact in Tonga

The prevalence of diabetes in Tonga has doubled since 1973. If this trajectory continues, 1 in 3 people in Tonga could have diabetes within 10 years.

With medical training from ‘Amanaki Fo’ou, hospital stays for diabetic foot sepsis have decreased from 2 months to 2 days.
20 key nurse team members are certified by the National Association of Wound Care approved program
To date, more than 180 families have planted their own raised-bed gardens to help introduce fresh local produce into their meal plans.
75 men and women were trained in aerobic exercise instruction
In Tonga, diabetes increased from 5.2% of people to 19.0% over a 40-year period.
Diabetes was the second highest cause of death in Tonga in 2021. Of the four other leading causes of death in Tonga, three may have been related to diabetes.

Tongan Diabetes Resources

Fitness: body weights
Fitness: boxing
Fitness: cardio step
Fitness: cardio step island style
Lesoni 1: Ko hono Kamata ‘o e Fononga
Lesoni 2 – Ko hono Mahino’i ‘o e Fokoutua Suká
Lesoni 3 – Ko hoku Sino ko e Temipale
Lesoni 4 – ‘Oku ‘ikai Fakatupu Tatau ‘ae Me’atokoni Kotoa pē
Lesoni 5 – Ke Palanisi ‘a e Me’a Kotoa pē
Lesoni 6 – Ko e Mo’ui Lelei ‘a e ‘Atamaí
Lesoni 7 – Ko ‘eku Koloa Tukufakaholo
Fitness: body weights
Fitness: boxing
Fitness: cardio step
Fitness: cardio step island style
Lesoni 1: Ko hono Kamata ‘o e Fononga
Lesoni 2 – Ko hono Mahino’i ‘o e Fokoutua Suká
Lesoni 3 – Ko hoku Sino ko e Temipale
Lesoni 4 – ‘Oku ‘ikai Fakatupu Tatau ‘ae Me’atokoni Kotoa pē
Lesoni 5 – Ke Palanisi ‘a e Me’a Kotoa pē
Lesoni 6 – Ko e Mo’ui Lelei ‘a e ‘Atamaí
Lesoni 7 – Ko ‘eku Koloa Tukufakaholo

Our Future Needs You

The greatest resource we have to create a Diabetes-free future is each other. Whether you’re making a donation, volunteering your time, or helping us spread the word online, we need you to become a part of our global community of compassion.

Donate

Your donation goes a long way

Partner

Great partners make a great difference

Volunteer

Needed: volunteers with big hearts and willing hands

Dr. Rob Ferguson

Chair of Treatment Team

Co-founder of ‘Amanaki Fo’ou’ with wife Andrea Ferguson

Since 2013, Rob Ferguson has been working with ministries of health, medical professionals, government leaders, and hospital and clinic staff to address the management, treatment, and education on the sequelae of diabetes. Rob is a reconstructive surgeon and hospital system medical officer with Intermountain Health (based in Salt Lake City, UT). His focus includes training teams on surgical management of diabetic complications as well as working with local teams to recruit volunteer specialists to meet their goals and needs.

 

 

Rob graduated from Brigham Young University prior to obtaining his medical degree from the University of Virginia. His surgical and specialty training programs include the University of Kentucky, MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX), and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan). He obtained a masters in business administration from the University of Utah.